Propolis and its potential against SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and COVID-19 disease

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Recent biotechnological advances as potential intervention strategies against COVID-19

“…Another natural product that has been proposed for the treatment of COVID-19 is propolis, which is a natural product produced by bees, composed mainly by polyphenolic components. Preclinical studies have shown that propolis promotes the immunoregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including the reduction of IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-α, reducing the risk of cytokine storm syndrome, an important mortality factor in advanced COVID-19 (Barreta et al 2020 ). The dosage depends on the standardization, and normally the propolis may have differences due to the raw material, which depends on the ecosystem.…”

“…The dosage depends on the standardization, and normally the propolis may have differences due to the raw material, which depends on the ecosystem. However, there is a patent called EPP-AF ® that has reproducibility and the clinical data so far support doses of 375–500 mg of propolis/day (Silveira et al 2019 ; Barreta et al 2020 ). Propolis has also been shown to be a safe product, but there are still no reports of clinical studies on its effects against COVID-19.…”

“…Propolis has also been shown to be a safe product, but there are still no reports of clinical studies on its effects against COVID-19. However, a clinical trial of Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF ® ) for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 was recently started in Brazil (Barreta et al 2020 ).…”

“…This mechanism involves overexpression of Serine/threonine-protein kinase (PAK1), which is a kinase that mediates coronavirus-induced lung inflammation, fibrosis, and immune system suppression. In addition, other compounds present in propolis, such as rutin, showed an excellent inhibitory potential, followed by myricetin, phenethyl ester of caffeic acid, hesperetin and pinocembrin (Güler et al 2020 ; Barreta et al 2020 ). Another biomolecules such as limonin, quercetin, and kaempferol, common compounds in propolis, have been found to inhibit viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and spike glycoprotein (SGp), and their effect is acting viral inhibitory potential in the component that adheres to the host cell with high binding energy to viral components from − 9 to − 7.1 kcal/mol (Barreta et al 2020 ).…”

“…In addition, other compounds present in propolis, such as rutin, showed an excellent inhibitory potential, followed by myricetin, phenethyl ester of caffeic acid, hesperetin and pinocembrin (Güler et al 2020 ; Barreta et al 2020 ). Another biomolecules such as limonin, quercetin, and kaempferol, common compounds in propolis, have been found to inhibit viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and spike glycoprotein (SGp), and their effect is acting viral inhibitory potential in the component that adheres to the host cell with high binding energy to viral components from − 9 to − 7.1 kcal/mol (Barreta et al 2020 ). Propolis is a relevant therapeutic option, safe, easy to administer orally and readily available as a natural supplement and functional food, and considered GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA; as well as rutin commonly found in foods like tomatoes and also some in silico studies show, such as rutin, have better binding energy than the hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir drugs against COVID-19 (Adem et al 2020 ; Sivaraman and Pradeep 2020 ).…”